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The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of a survey of advanced practice nurses (APNs) to determine the activities they perform related to caring for patients with addictions and or co-occurring mental health disorders, the amount of addictions education in their graduate programs, and their perceptions of the value of addictions education for their role. Data were obtained from 233 APNs in New York State using a tool adapted from a previous job analysis survey. APNs reported the greatest amount of experience in history taking for various types of addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders and least amount of experience in performing objective exams, using standardized screening tools, ordering related diagnostic tests, prescribing pharmacological treatments, and making referrals for addiction treatment. Respondents reported a mean of less than three hours addictions education in their graduate programs in contrast to their high perceived importance of this clinical area.

This historical research aimed to develop an accurate perception of the role of spirituality and religion within the history of Alcoholics Anonymous. Primary and secondary sources were reviewed. The study identified that Bill W. and Dr. Bob established the format for the support group based on the ideas of William James, which formed the base for the Oxford Groups. Alcoholics Anonymous was clearly viewed as a spiritual group and not a religion. The review also showed that the two founders had each experienced one of the two types of spiritual awakenings that James had addressed. These findings will help nurses clarify their own perceptions of this organization so they may accurately educate individuals who they are encouraging to participate in this program while recovering from an addiction.

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IntmductlonNurses interact daily with people who have health problems related to addictions, including alcoholism. 1*2 However, a review of literature highlights the neglect of this health problem by the nursing profession, and the resultant invisibility of nursing within the field of substance abuse. 13334*59697 Further, the literature describes nurses' negative perceptions regarding individuals experiencing health problems that are related to alcoholism and drug addiction. The review emphasized that nurses tend to mirror the perceptions of society in general, and thus, people experiencing these problems are viewed in stigmatized, pessimistic, helpless, infantile, moralistic, and ambivalent m a n n e r~.~~~J~ Education to promote more positive perceptions of caring for individuals with problems related to addictions were also discussed King15*16 emphasizes that a person's perceptions influence the individual's interactions and transactions with others. As a major concept within King's theory, "perception is a process of organizing, interpreting, and transforming information from sense data and memory. It is a process of human transactions with environment. It gives meaning to one's experience, represents one's image of reality, and influences one's behavior."15* P. 24 All individuals perceive. However, each person may perceive the same entity in a unique way, since perceptions are influenced by people's backgrounds, current needs, and future aims.King further notes that stereotyping is an aspect of percepti~n.'~ If individuals have a negative perception of a person, then their behaviors toward that person may be affected negatively. In light of the effects of perceptions on behaviors, helping nursing students develop positive perceptions of individuals in a few articles.5.11~12.13.14 with health problems related to addictions may facilitate in developing their abilities to care for them in meaningful ways so that nurses can facilitate transactions and goal attainment with this population. Putposes of the ReseamhThis qualitative descriptive study sought to identify senior baccalaureate nursing students' perceptions of individuals who are substance abusers at the beginning and end of a semester, and to determine whether these perceptions changed during this time. MethodThis qualitative project used a phenomenological approach in order to acknowledge and describe the nursing students' attitudes regarding addictions. l7 InstrumentsIn line with the project's theoretical framework, purpose, and methodology, on the fust and last days of the semester, the students were asked to write two paragraphs describing their feelings, thoughts, and reactions to the words: "alcoholic," and "drug addict." On the last day of the class, they were also asked to complete forms delineating the number and specific learning activities related to these problems that they had participated in during the semester. SubjectsAfter receiving the full approval of the Institutional Review Board of the College, the data were collected over five ye...